“Our goal is to try to prevent any type of tragedy in our community,” said Chief Dan Purcell of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.

If a driver is caught on the phone while in the designated areas in Seminole County, they could face a fine of $166.

Since the Wireless Communication Act took place in July 2019, troopers have stopped more than 1,500 drivers for texting and drivers on a state list. Seminole and Orange counties topped the list for having the most drivers penalized.

First time offenders caught using their phone outside of a work zone will face a penalty of $116 if caught.

“If you’re not paying attention and you start straying off the road, it’s a pretty serious thing,” said Steve Olson of the Florida Department of Transportation.